Supporting clip



D. B. HULL SUPPORTING CLIP Aug. 23, 1949.

Filed April 12, 1945 INVENTOR.

flefzwmz E. Hall, 1

Patented Aug. 23, 1949 SUPPORTING CLIP' Denison B. Hull, Winnetka, HLaSsignor toDenison B. Hull; doing business-as tarion, Chicago, 111.

Application April 12, 1945, Serial N o.'588,'003

This invention relates to an improved flexible supporting =clip for a small wearable electronic hearing aid, whereby said instrument may be securely supported in a pocket of the wearer's garment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a clip construction having provision for adjusting the same with reference to its connection to the hearing aid or corresponding associated device, which is readily applicable to said device for use, and which adjustably supports the same in a desired pocket or other receptacle in a very secure fashion resistant to inadvertent loss.

Other more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the improved apparatus herein described.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation illustrating the clip construction as applied to a well known type of electronic hearing aid;

Fig. 2 is a similar rear view of the clip in operative position, illustrating provisions for securing the clip on the device;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fi 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation; and

Fig. 5 is a front view illustrating the clip per se prior to formation thereof into final form.

In the drawings, I have illustrated and designated by the reference numeral I 0, the plastic casing of a well known type of portable or wearable hearing aid device. This casing has a generally rectangular flattened section with rounded top and bottom corners and rounded top, bottom and side edges, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. An adjustable volume control element I I projects laterally of the casing. The reference numeral I2 in general designates the clip of the present invention. This clip is initially stamped out of sheet metal of suitable resilience and temper, preferably a .03 carbon steel, into the shape illustrated in Fig. 5. So stamped, the clip comprises a central, vertically upstanding attaching member I3, the lower extremity of which merges with laterally extending arms I4. These arms merge with vertically extending portions I 5 having lateral outward arm continuations I6 adapted to embrace the sides of the casing in the finished form of the clip. Outwardly oifset and downwardly depending spring detent fingers I! are provided at the outer extremities of the arm continuations l6, these fingers being ofiset or punched at the lower extremities thereof to provide friction nibs I8. The central member I3 1 Claim. (01. 2.4-4.) 7

likewise'isbonformed by offsetting to provide a:

lug I9 extending in the same direction as the nibs I-8 in the initial condition of the clip blank.

In adapting the blank illustrated in Fig, 5 to its final form, the arm continuations I6 are conformed by a suitable die in curves corresponding generally to, but 0f somewhat smaller initial radius than, the curvature of the sides of case I0. This enables the conformed clip to be slipped or snapped over the casing, with detent fingers II disposed forwardly thereof and the nibs I8 in springable engagement with the front of said casing. In order to sustain the clip relative to the casing, the rear wall of the latter has an adapter fixture 20 secured thereto as by rivets 2 I, said adapter 20 being preferably countersunk in the rear casing wall so as to be flush with the surface of the latter. Said fixture is provided with one or more vertically spaced detent recesses 22 in which the forwardly projecting lug I9 is selectively receivable. Hence, in operative position the clip may be springably secured to the casing either in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 or in a more elevated position thereon, so that less of the casing is visible when inserted in a users pocket with clips I? engaging over the lip of the pocket in a well known fashion. Likewise, adjustability of the clip on the instrument adapts the same for optimum reception and support in pockets of varying depth. The multiple engagement afforded by the pair of spaced detent fingers I! obviously increases the security of the retention of the hearing aid on the wearers garment, effectively preventing inadvertent displacement therefrom.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the laterally extending arms I 4, being spaced substantially below the attaching lug I9, and integrally connected thereto by the member I3, exert a definite bracing and stabilizing action on the rear of the casing I0, resisting any tendency of the clip to cant should vertical thrust be exerted on the casing, and assisting the spring arm I6 to resist springing distortion from that cause. By reason of this feature, it is possible to employ a relatively short length of arm I B, thereby positioning the detent fingers I! adjacent the curvature of the forward side edges, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. This enhances the effectiveness of the grip of nibs I8 on the wearers garment, since the material of the latter is in efiect snubbed around the curved edges between the casing and clip.

The device is simple and inexpensive and readily applied to and adjusted on the hearing aid.

3 Further advantages win readily suggest themselves.

I claim:

A clip of the type described, comprising a central, relatively flat attaching portion engageable with one side of a supported body over a substantial area and having a projecting attaching element thereon adapted for engagement in an aperture of the body, a pair of arms integrally connected to said central attaching portion in spaced relation to said element, said arms extending laterally in planar form a substantial distance from opposite sides of and in coplanar relation to said attaching portion, and arm extensions integrally connected to and generally paralleling said arms in offset relation thereto, said extensions being spaced from said arms to embrace the sides of a supported body and terminating in a pair of laterally spaced depending clips, said clips being spaced transversely from said attaching portion, in opposed, facing relation to the latter, and being springably engageable with a support to hold the body in place thereon.

DENISON B. HULL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

